Expenditure on the launch of the University of Mpumalanga
17 December 2013
The Office of the Premier noted with a concern the sensationalised headlines by a Nelspruit-based newspaper, Lowvelder, regarding the expenditure on the launch of the University of Mpumalanga.
The Lowvelder, claimed that the Office of the Premier spent R4 million on the event but fails to provide information to the public on expenditure.
Such a claim by the newspaper was besides a direct response to its media query to clarify the matter. The paper publicised an erroneous story and claimed that the provincial government never responded to its questions. The paper decided to put the questions in their story thereby creating an impression to the public that the provincial government failed to respond.
The Office of the Premier would like to explain by putting it categorically clear that at no point did the provincial government spend R4 million on the function. The Lowvelder has mistaken the estimated allocation provided by the provincial treasury during the adjustment appropriation.
An increase in the numbers of targeted audience was considered after the people of Mpumalanga had made repeated calls for the provincial government not to make the launch an elitist function, because they wanted to be part of the event and own the tertiary institution.
The amount of R4 million was made available to deal with any matter that relates to the launch of the university, between the time of the launch and the end of the financial year in March 2014.
Therefore, for the Lowvelder to expect the provincial government to provide details for daily transactions on any matter might indeed be difficult. It is for this reason that there is the legislature to keep track on government expenditure and other insitutions such as the Auditor-General to verify if procedures and value for money principles are observed.
However, because questions have been put in the public, as though there is something untoward, the provincial government wishes to indicate that the allocation of R4million was put based on the following assumptions:
The amount of R4 million was allocated to the Office of the Premier based on the above assumptions. This amount formed part of the Provincial Adjustment Appropriation Act No 3 of 2013 which was approved by the Provincial Legislature on 06 December 2013.
The office of the Premier is spending within this framework and is further guided by all supply chain processes. The provincial government is confident that even the audit outcomes will confirm this.
Issued by Zibonele Mncwango
Spokesperson: Mpumalanga Premier
Tel: (013) 766 2453
Mobile: 079 491 0163
E-mail: zmncwango@mpg.gov.za
